Biden signs two presidential decrees to speed up push for quantum information science

Produced by Photon Box Research Institute

On May 4, U.S. President Joe Biden signed two "presidential decrees" aimed at accelerating the development of quantum information science (QIS) in the United States, demonstrating the Biden administration's emphasis and commitment to this critical emerging technology .

The two directives come at a time of global concern and uncertainty: the war in Ukraine, a post-pandemic economic slowdown and supply chain tensions, combined with ongoing political tensions with China, have all fueled a variety of national security concerns.

The trickle of practical uses for NISQ computers and the emergence of other QIS applications such as sensors have added to the sense of urgency in the overall development of QIS.

The White House said the United States has been a global leader in the development of new technologies. QIS is a broad field of science and engineering, and quantum computers are one of many promising applications of QIS, not a replacement for conventional computers. Instead, a quantum computer is a very different kind of computer, capable of analyzing information in a way that conventional computers cannot. While QIS itself is not new, recent breakthroughs in QIS show that through advances in computing, networking and sensing, it will be possible to drive innovation across the U.S. economy: from energy to medicine. A breakthrough in QIS promises to bring new industries, high-paying jobs and economic opportunities to all Americans.

The first item Biden signed was an "Executive Order Strengthening the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee." Under the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act, passed in 2018, the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee — the federal government’s independent expert advisory body on quantum information technology — will be established. The committee consists of up to 26 quantum experts from industry, academia and government, placed directly under the leadership of the White House and appointed directly by the president.

The White House said, “The creation of the committee will ensure that the President, Congress, federal departments and agencies, and the public receive the latest, most accurate, and relevant information on quantum information science and technology.” In the future, committee members will be primarily responsible for evaluating quantum information science and technology (QIST) trends and developments, NQI implementation management; and recommends any possible necessary program revisions, noting possible opportunities for international cooperation and open standards, and whether NQI adequately addresses national security and economic factors that drive U.S. policy develops and advances technological superiority.

 Biden also signed the National Security Memorandum on Promoting U.S. Leadership in Quantum Computing while Reducing Risk to Vulnerable Cryptographic Systems. Research shows that in the not-too-distant future, when quantum computers reach a certain scale and sophistication, they will be able to crack much of the cryptography that currently secures digital communications on the Internet. To address this risk, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will publish new post-quantum cryptography standards to prevent these future attacks. However, the process of transitioning America's most vulnerable IT systems to these new standards will take time, resources and commitment. The United States must start updating its IT infrastructure now to prevent this future threat of quantum computing.

The details of the National Security Memorandum are as follows:

1. Keep the United States a global leader in technological development, especially QIS. The National Security Memorandum directs federal agencies to take a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to harness the economic and scientific benefits of quantum information science, as well as the security enhancements of new cryptosystems, for all Americans. It proposes a policy to promote quantum-related educational programs and workforce development initiatives, emphasizing a coordinated approach to basic scientific research, and encouraging stronger partnerships with industry, academic institutions, and overseas allies and partners.

2. Initiate cooperation between the federal government and the private sector. It directs NIST to establish a "Post-Quantum Cryptography Migration" project at the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, and an open working group in partnership with industry to jointly generate research on quantum resilient cryptography standards and technologies and encourage their widespread and fair use use.

3. Set standards for federal agencies to update cryptographic systems. Given the complexity, cost, and time required for a full transition to post-quantum cryptography standards, the National Security Mechanism provides a roadmap for agencies to inventory their IT systems and requires agencies to set milestones that meet specific requirements. Doing so will help ensure federal agencies have the support they need to adequately and effectively protect their networks from future hackers.

4) Protect American technology. The NSA recognizes the importance of protecting critical technology from theft and misuse. To that end, the National Security Act directs federal agencies to develop comprehensive programs to protect U.S. intellectual property, research and development, and other sensitive technologies from U.S. competitors, and to educate industry and academia about the threats they face. It encourages collaboration with international partners to ensure a competitive and fair global market and to foster innovation and continued growth in the field.

Reference Links:：

[1]https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/04/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-two-presidential-directives-advancing-quantum-technologies/

[2]https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/05/04/executive-order-on-enhancing-the-national-quantum-initiative-advisory-committee/